King Phojanakong

King was a native New Yorker whose culinary influences began at home with the inspirational cooking of his Filipino mother and Thai father. Childhood summers in Silay, Philippines furthered his interest in the culinary world.

Experience

King opened Kuma Inn in New York's Lower East Side in 2003. It was one of the first in the city serving Filipino-Thai Southeast Asian fare. Kuma Inn closed in 2021 after an 18-year run. King's other projects included: Small Axe Peppers, a hot sauce made with peppers purchased from community gardens in cities across America, and Cook Like King, made-to-order group cooking experiences.

Education

King was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He also attended Bronx Science High School, City College, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

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